New Trial Dates Set In Fairfield Fill Pile Case: Report

FAIRFIELD, CT — Defendants in the sprawling Fairfield fill pile case will be tried in more proceedings, a Bridgeport Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday, reported the Connecticut Post.

Judge Tracy Lee Dayton has decided to divide the case into three new trials, due to the number of defendants, the number of charges, and the amount of evidence expected to be heard.

Her ruling reportedly is designed to keep the jury from becoming too confused in the illegal dumping and corruption case, according to the publication.

Earlier this month, one of the defendants, former public works superintendent Scott Bartlett, was found guilty of eight of nine charges in the first fill pile case, which involved illegal dumping at Owen Fish Pond. The co-defendant in that case, Brian Carey, the former conservation director and former interim public works director, was found not guilty.

Both men will be tried again under other aspects of the fill pile case; the other defendants are:

• Former Fairfield human resources director Emmet Hibson
• Robert J. Grabarek, an environmental contractor hired by the town
• Former Fairfield chief financial officer Robert Mayer
• Jason Julian, co-owner of Julian Enterprises

Following Dayton's ruling, Bartlett and Julian reportedly are scheduled for trial on Sept. 10; Mayer is scheduled for trial on Nov. 8; and Carey, Hibson and Grabarek are scheduled for trial in January.

Former Fairfield public works director Joe Michelangelo, a seventh defendant in the case, pleaded guilty, and testified against Bartlett and Carey. He is expected to testify against the defendants in the new trials.

Read the Connecticut Post story.